Big East Tournament!: #9 Connecticut Huskies (22-9, 9-9) vs #8 Georgetown Hoyas (21-9, 10-8)

Connecticut Huskies		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
#21/19 (21-9, 9-9); RPI: 25		#22 (21-9, 10-8); RPI: 11

(Perspectives After The Jump)

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

I have had to stay on campus and work this week, but spring break is amazing no matter what you are doing. I would have loved to go up for the game today, but Epicurean will have to suffice. I'm not really sure what to think for the match up against UConn. Without Chris Wright, we have playing very sloppy basketball and unless JT3 came up with a new plan in the last couple of days, we will likely get whooped. My mother asked me two days ago if we would win the Big East Championship. I said no, and I hope I am wrong. Our Hoyas play well when we have something to prove. I think we need to prove we can win without Wright, and today is our chance. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Court Side Seats - A Perspective from OldHoya:

Even eternal Georgetown optimist OldHoya recognizes that the team is in a tailspin and this afternoon's matchup with UConn will be a tough battle. We all know the questions - How will we fare without Chris Wright? How will we stop Kemba Walker? Will Julian Vaughn snap out of it? - but the only way to answer them is as a team. For a team that regularly wins with an incredibly high assist to field goal ratio, it's odd that we keep asking individual players, particularly Austin, to carry all the weight in Wright's absence. Cincinnati was able to capitalize on that individual mindset by constantly applying pressure to Austin and Jason and there's little question UConn has seen that tape.

It sounds silly but we need everyone who plays to contribute to a team win. We need Henry, Julian, and Nate to dominate the interior. We need Austin, Jason, Hollis, and Markel to get the ball up court and then attack, looking to either score or drop it to a teammate for a good look inside or out. And without the proverbial coach on the floor, we need JT3 to rally the troops and keep them playing as as a unit.

The Big East Tournament is played on the grandest stage and we've already seen a surprising upset with USF rolling Nova. Georgetown has the opportunity to reestablish itself beginning today and heading into the weekend and next week.

OldHoya knows that the Casulties' collective productivity today will be minimal and that's the way it should be.

Hoya Saxa.

View from the Enemy- A Perspective from our Sleeping With The Enemy Interview:

Neither team is playing particularly well, of course, making either one a risky proposition. But if you force me to bet, I'm taking the team that's at least in some kind of rhythm and is more-or-less 100% healthy. I'll say UConn 70, Georgetown 64. Unless JT3 decides to play a matchup zone, in which case Georgetown wins, 64-2.

I will be watching from the casual luxury suite in MSG. What is there to be nervous about? I have zero expectations for this game. Outlook: DOOM!

View from the Sportsbook (via DonBest) - A Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: UConn -3. Over/Under 130.5

This line opened at UConn -1.5 and has since ballooned to UConn -3 in just a few hours.

Like the rest of AMERICA I just don't see how the Hoyas will win this game unless Freeman, Vaughn, and Clark wake up and snap out of their collective funk all at once. It could happen, but along with most of the Hoya faithful before I go to sleep at night I pray that Chris Wright's 3rd metacarpal heals quickly and that he'll be back in time for the Dance. I still have dreams that involve Hoya wins against UConn and Pitt and a Garden rocking with Blue and Gray this weekend, but realistically I'm hoping for a nice matchup in the 6-11 game in a couple weeks and we'll go from there.

The pick is UConn -3. Final score Huskies 72 - Hoyas 56.

Casual Hoya is 17-13 ATS. Last season: 22-8 ATS.

www.CasualHoya.com: Where Your Money Stays And Plays.